EP0276676B1 - Pressure-regulating device for the second stage of reduction of an air breathing apparatus - Google Patents
Pressure-regulating device for the second stage of reduction of an air breathing apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0276676B1 EP0276676B1 EP88100286A EP88100286A EP0276676B1 EP 0276676 B1 EP0276676 B1 EP 0276676B1 EP 88100286 A EP88100286 A EP 88100286A EP 88100286 A EP88100286 A EP 88100286A EP 0276676 B1 EP0276676 B1 EP 0276676B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- valve member
- valve
- stage
- spring
- valve seat
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
- A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
- A62B9/00—Component parts for respiratory or breathing apparatus
- A62B9/02—Valves
- A62B9/022—Breathing demand regulators
- A62B9/025—Breathing demand regulators with tilting opening action
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
- B63C11/00—Equipment for dwelling or working underwater; Means for searching for underwater objects
- B63C11/02—Divers' equipment
- B63C11/18—Air supply
- B63C11/22—Air supply carried by diver
- B63C11/2227—Second-stage regulators
Definitions
- This invention relates to a pressure-regulating device which is intended, for example, to equip the second stage of reduction of a two-stage pressure regulator of an air breathing apparatus, particularly an underwater breathing apparatus.
- valve member of the second-stage valve is urged constantly by a calibrated spring with a considerable force against its valve seat. This valve-closing force is present as well when the valve is in its rest condition, and in the course of time this fact causes a permanent distortion of the resilient seal on the valve member, which alters the calibration of said valve.
- the device according to said US-A-4,094,314 however, has some disadvantages and does not grant always a constant and reliable operation; moreover, the force which matches the valve member against its seat cannot be adjusted.
- a pressure regulating device comprising a floating piston member formed with an axial conduit communicating with the air-feeding conduit from the first stage of reduction of an air bottle, and provided at one end with a valve seat.
- the said piston member may be displaced between a first operative position, in which it is pushed by air pressure against the seal of a valve member against the action of a spring, and a second position wherein it is separated and moved away from the seal of said valve member by the action of said spring.
- the said device is however intended for use on breathing apparatuses for aircraft pilots and is not suitable for use in an underwater breathing apparatus.
- This invention provides a pressure-regulating device for the second stage of reduction of an underwater air breathing apparatus comprising a floating piston member formed with an axial conduit communicating with the air feeding conduit from the first stage of reduction of the pressurized air feeding bottle or bottles, and provided at one end with a valve seat, and capable of displacing between a first operative position in which it is pushed by the air pressure against the seal of a valve member against the action of a spring, and a second operative position wherein it is moved away from the seal of said valve member by the action of said spring under the control of the manostat diaphragm of the air breathing apparatus, characterized by the fact that in the rest position of the device the valve seat and the valve member are spaced one from another so as to exclude any contact between said parts.
- the floating piston of the device according to the invention which mounts said valve seat, moves through an exactly-established stroke between an operative position wherein it is pushed by the pressure of the compressed air against the seal of the valve member, and a rest position, defined by a stop member, wherein said valve seat is spaced from the seal of the valve member by the action of a spring, so as to ensure a prompt separation of these two members in any operational condition.
- said piston and the valve seat mounted thereon are separated from said valve member at the beginning of the breathing activity as a result of the pressure drop upstream of said piston during the inhalation step, so that an increased amount of air will be fed to the user at a parity of breathing effort, with resulting easier breathing, which is particularly important in case of increased need of oxigen of the user.
- the numeral 1 indicates diagrammatically the mouthpiece of a breathing apparatus
- the numeral 2 indicates the control lever for a valve member 3, said lever being controlled, in a manner known per se , by a manostat diaphragm (not shown) of the breathing apparatus.
- the regulating valve for the second stage of the regulator comprises a valve body indicated generally at 4 communicating at one end thereof, through a conduit 5, with the conduit leading to the mouthpiece 1, and closed at the other end thereof by a screwed cap 6 comprising an axial tubular union 7 which is connected to the first-stage reduction valve (not shown) associated with the bottle which feeds the compressed air.
- the valve body 4 comprises interiorly a first cylindrical chamber 104 and a second cylindrical chamber 204 having a larger diameter than the chamber 104.
- the two chambers 104 and 204 freely communicate with each other.
- the chamber 104 communicates at one end thereof with said conduit 5, while the chamber 204 is closed at the opposite end thereof by said screwed cap 6.
- the chamber 104 accommodates the valve member 3 comprising a cylindrical body 103 connected at one end thereof to a stem 203 which extends with a radial clearance through said conduit 5 and is associated with an end of said control lever 2.
- the body 103 is provided at the other end thereof with a member 303 accommodating the resilient seal 403 of the valve member.
- the outer diameter of the member 303 is smaller than the inner diameter of the chamber 104 so as to form an annular gap between these two members to permit the air to flow therethrough.
- the valve member 3 is urged constantly in the axial direction towards the chamber 204 by a spring 503 abutting against the bottom of the chamber 104 and the bottom of the member 303.
- the axial displacement of the member 3 in said direction is limited by a stop member 603 arranged on the end portion of the stem 203.
- the chamber 204 accommodates, in an axially slidable manner, the valve-seat mounting member.
- This member indicated generally at 8, comprises a cylindrical body 108 accommodated in the chamber 204, provided at one end thereof with a cylindrical extension 208 protruding into the conduit 7.
- a toroidal seal 308 is arranged between the outer wall of the extension 208 and the inner wall of the conduit 7 to ensure a sealed co-operation therebetween.
- a through-conduit 408 is formed axially in the body member 8 and communicates at one end thereof with said conduit 7, and at the other end thereof with the valve seat 508.
- the body member 8 is urged constantly away from the valve member 3 by a spring 608 abutting against the bottom of the chamber 204 and against an annular shoulder on the body member 8.
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Pulmonology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Emergency Management (AREA)
- Respiratory Apparatuses And Protective Means (AREA)
- Massaging Devices (AREA)
- Safety Valves (AREA)
- Air-Conditioning For Vehicles (AREA)
- Valves And Accessory Devices For Braking Systems (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to a pressure-regulating device which is intended, for example, to equip the second stage of reduction of a two-stage pressure regulator of an air breathing apparatus, particularly an underwater breathing apparatus.
- In the conventional air pressure-regulating devices for the second stage of reduction of an air breathing apparatus, the valve member of the second-stage valve is urged constantly by a calibrated spring with a considerable force against its valve seat. This valve-closing force is present as well when the valve is in its rest condition, and in the course of time this fact causes a permanent distortion of the resilient seal on the valve member, which alters the calibration of said valve.
- Inasmuch as the rest periods of this device are by far much longer than the periods of actual operation, it has been proposed, for example, as described in US-A- 4,094,314, to avoid any contact between the valve member and valve seat in the second-stage valves during the non-operative periods of said valves, by mounting the valve seat on a freely-floating member or piston, whereby the valve seat is matched against the valve member only when compressed air is operative upstream of said valve seat, whereas when the supply of compressed air is discontinued said piston is pushed back into a neutral position due to the resiliency of the seal on said valve member.
- The device according to said US-A-4,094,314 however, has some disadvantages and does not grant always a constant and reliable operation; moreover, the force which matches the valve member against its seat cannot be adjusted.
- Furthermore, all the conventional regulators mentioned above have the serious disadvantage to require the user, during the step of air supply to him, to make an inhaling effort growing progressively with his air requirements, so that considerable breathing difficulties are often encountered by a user who, for example, is temporarily in a panting or gasping condition, i.e. is struggling for breath. The breathing functions of this user, in fact, are not facilitated by the conventional regulators.
- From FR-A-2288346 a pressure regulating device is known, comprising a floating piston member formed with an axial conduit communicating with the air-feeding conduit from the first stage of reduction of an air bottle, and provided at one end with a valve seat. The said piston member may be displaced between a first operative position, in which it is pushed by air pressure against the seal of a valve member against the action of a spring, and a second position wherein it is separated and moved away from the seal of said valve member by the action of said spring. The said device is however intended for use on breathing apparatuses for aircraft pilots and is not suitable for use in an underwater breathing apparatus.
- This invention provides a pressure-regulating device for the second stage of reduction of an underwater air breathing apparatus comprising a floating piston member formed with an axial conduit communicating with the air feeding conduit from the first stage of reduction of the pressurized air feeding bottle or bottles, and provided at one end with a valve seat, and capable of displacing between a first operative position in which it is pushed by the air pressure against the seal of a valve member against the action of a spring, and a second operative position wherein it is moved away from the seal of said valve member by the action of said spring under the control of the manostat diaphragm of the air breathing apparatus, characterized by the fact that in the rest position of the device the valve seat and the valve member are spaced one from another so as to exclude any contact between said parts.
- According to its main characteristic, the floating piston of the device according to the invention, which mounts said valve seat, moves through an exactly-established stroke between an operative position wherein it is pushed by the pressure of the compressed air against the seal of the valve member, and a rest position, defined by a stop member, wherein said valve seat is spaced from the seal of the valve member by the action of a spring, so as to ensure a prompt separation of these two members in any operational condition. By virtue of this characteristic, it is possible to calibrate accurately and in an exactly reproducible manner both the force for matching together said two members, i.e. the second-stage valve seat and valve member, and the force for separating them.
- Due to said calibrated spring acting on the floating piston, said piston and the valve seat mounted thereon are separated from said valve member at the beginning of the breathing activity as a result of the pressure drop upstream of said piston during the inhalation step, so that an increased amount of air will be fed to the user at a parity of breathing effort, with resulting easier breathing, which is particularly important in case of increased need of oxigen of the user.
- Further characteristics and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which diagrammatically shows a longitudinal sectional view of a second-stage pressure regulating device according to the invention.
- With reference to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates diagrammatically the mouthpiece of a breathing apparatus, the numeral 2 indicates the control lever for a
valve member 3, said lever being controlled, in a manner known per se, by a manostat diaphragm (not shown) of the breathing apparatus. The regulating valve for the second stage of the regulator comprises a valve body indicated generally at 4 communicating at one end thereof, through aconduit 5, with the conduit leading to the mouthpiece 1, and closed at the other end thereof by ascrewed cap 6 comprising an axial tubular union 7 which is connected to the first-stage reduction valve (not shown) associated with the bottle which feeds the compressed air. The valve body 4 comprises interiorly a firstcylindrical chamber 104 and a secondcylindrical chamber 204 having a larger diameter than thechamber 104. The twochambers chamber 104 communicates at one end thereof with saidconduit 5, while thechamber 204 is closed at the opposite end thereof by said screwedcap 6. Thechamber 104 accommodates thevalve member 3 comprising acylindrical body 103 connected at one end thereof to astem 203 which extends with a radial clearance through saidconduit 5 and is associated with an end of said control lever 2. Thebody 103 is provided at the other end thereof with amember 303 accommodating theresilient seal 403 of the valve member. The outer diameter of themember 303 is smaller than the inner diameter of thechamber 104 so as to form an annular gap between these two members to permit the air to flow therethrough. Thevalve member 3 is urged constantly in the axial direction towards thechamber 204 by aspring 503 abutting against the bottom of thechamber 104 and the bottom of themember 303. The axial displacement of themember 3 in said direction is limited by astop member 603 arranged on the end portion of thestem 203. Thechamber 204 accommodates, in an axially slidable manner, the valve-seat mounting member. This member, indicated generally at 8, comprises acylindrical body 108 accommodated in thechamber 204, provided at one end thereof with acylindrical extension 208 protruding into the conduit 7. Atoroidal seal 308 is arranged between the outer wall of theextension 208 and the inner wall of the conduit 7 to ensure a sealed co-operation therebetween. A through-conduit 408 is formed axially in thebody member 8 and communicates at one end thereof with said conduit 7, and at the other end thereof with thevalve seat 508. Thebody member 8 is urged constantly away from thevalve member 3 by aspring 608 abutting against the bottom of thechamber 204 and against an annular shoulder on thebody member 8. - The operation of the device described above is now apparent. As soon as the airflow from the first stage is activated, the air pressure acting on the end of the
extension 208 pushes thebody member 8 against the action of thespring 608 and matches thevalve seat 508 against thevalve member 403. When the user starts breathing, thevalve member 403 is moved away from thevalve seat 508, against the action of thevalve spring 503, by the action of the lever 2 under the control of the manostat diaphragm. As a result, an airflow is established from the conduit 7, through theconduit 408, thevalve seat 508 andconduit 5 to the mouthpiece 1. Such an airflow causes a pressure drop in the conduit 7, upstream of thepiston 8, so that thefloating piston 8 is again moved away from the valve member 403 (the illustrated position), thus increasing the distance between thevalve seat 508 andvalve member 403, which causes an increase in the amount of air fed to the user at a parity of inhaling effort. This characteristic makes breathing easier, which is particularly important in case of panting conditions or lack of oxigen. - Of course, as soon as the inhaling act is over, pressure will increase upstream of the
piston 8 and will match it back against saidvalve member 403, thus discontinuing the airflow to the user. - Finally, when the regulator is at rest, i.e. when the airflow is discontinued from the first stage to the second stage of the regulator, the
piston 8 together with thevalve seat 508 are kept away from thevalve member 403 by the action of thespring 608.
Claims (2)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AT88100286T ATE64128T1 (en) | 1987-01-28 | 1988-01-12 | PRESSURE REGULATION VALVE FOR THE SECOND REDUCTION STAGE OF AN AIR BREATHING DEVICE. |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT1511687U | 1987-01-28 | ||
IT8715116U IT211686Z2 (en) | 1987-01-28 | 1987-01-28 | REGULAR PRESSURE DEVICE FOR THE SECOND STAGE OF REDUCTION OF AIR RESPIRATORY APPLIANCES |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0276676A2 EP0276676A2 (en) | 1988-08-03 |
EP0276676A3 EP0276676A3 (en) | 1988-08-17 |
EP0276676B1 true EP0276676B1 (en) | 1991-06-05 |
Family
ID=11146416
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP88100286A Expired - Lifetime EP0276676B1 (en) | 1987-01-28 | 1988-01-12 | Pressure-regulating device for the second stage of reduction of an air breathing apparatus |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US4834086A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0276676B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH078393Y2 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE64128T1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE3863075D1 (en) |
IT (1) | IT211686Z2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2647081B1 (en) * | 1989-05-18 | 1993-12-24 | Spirotechnique Indle Cale | RESPIRATORY GAS SUPPLY METHOD AND REGULATOR FOR UNDERWATER DIVER |
AU644794B2 (en) * | 1989-06-06 | 1993-12-23 | T.D. Preece & Co. Pty Limited | Diving regulator demand valve |
NO178121C (en) * | 1993-10-05 | 1996-01-24 | Ottestad Nils T | Servo gas control valve |
US5549107A (en) * | 1995-08-08 | 1996-08-27 | Under Sea Industries, Inc. | Second stage scuba diving regulator |
US5803073A (en) | 1996-03-08 | 1998-09-08 | Toth; Douglas J. | Second stage scuba diving regulator having a pneumatic-dependent anti-set feature |
US20040035415A1 (en) * | 2002-08-22 | 2004-02-26 | Michel Faligant | Breathing apparatus |
FR2880961B1 (en) * | 2005-01-18 | 2007-02-23 | Spirotechnique Sa | BREATHABLE GAS REGULATOR UNDER PRESSURE |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2596178A (en) * | 1948-10-12 | 1952-05-13 | Seeler Henry | Pressure responsive regulator |
FR2288346A1 (en) * | 1974-10-16 | 1976-05-14 | Intertechnique Sa | Gas supply device with spring loaded diaphragm valve - has pilot valve diaphragm responsive to inlet or outlet pressure |
FR2331089A1 (en) * | 1975-06-30 | 1977-06-03 | Le Cornec Jacques | AIR REGULATION DEVICE FOR REGULATOR |
IT1068162B (en) * | 1976-10-13 | 1985-03-21 | Technisub Spa | BREATHING APPARATUS WITH PERFECTED DISPENSER ... IN PARTICULAR FOR UNDERWATER USE |
US4159717A (en) * | 1977-06-07 | 1979-07-03 | Under Sea Industries, Inc. | Antiset protector for second stage scuba regulators |
-
1987
- 1987-01-28 IT IT8715116U patent/IT211686Z2/en active
-
1988
- 1988-01-12 EP EP88100286A patent/EP0276676B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-01-12 AT AT88100286T patent/ATE64128T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1988-01-12 DE DE8888100286T patent/DE3863075D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-01-26 US US07/148,693 patent/US4834086A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-01-28 JP JP1988008925U patent/JPH078393Y2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPH078393Y2 (en) | 1995-03-01 |
IT8715116V0 (en) | 1987-01-28 |
IT211686Z2 (en) | 1989-04-07 |
EP0276676A2 (en) | 1988-08-03 |
EP0276676A3 (en) | 1988-08-17 |
DE3863075D1 (en) | 1991-07-11 |
US4834086A (en) | 1989-05-30 |
JPS63133496U (en) | 1988-08-31 |
ATE64128T1 (en) | 1991-06-15 |
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